A stringing success

Skylands Youth Symphony hits a high note on classical music What would inspire a group of teenagers to come out in the cold and play music written by long-dead composers? Violinist Rob Henry has the answer: “Rock ’n’ roll is all pretty much the same, but classical music is so rich, so many styles, and in an orchestra all the parts fit together.” Henry is a member of the Skylands Youth Symphony, which presented a winter concert on Sunday to a crowd of some 200 enthusiastic friends and family members who filled the pews at the Church of St. Jude the Apostle in Hamburg, N.J.. The Pope John student says that he plans to devote his life to music. “I couldn’t do anything else,” says Henry, who also plays the bagpipes, Music director Keely Gould of Warwick leads the Vernon-based group of young musicians. Gould, a violinist, took over the all-strings orchestra in 2002. Cellist Jaime Compton credits Gould with inspiring her love for what she calls the “awesome beauty” of the classical repertoire. Compton says she particularly loves the angry pieces, like the third movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. “But some of the music is so lovely, playing it is a real high,” the young cellist said. The ambitious program featured a spirited rendition of “Spring” from Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.” The fresh-faced students seemed to exemplify the essence of the theme. The orchestra’s young musicians also charmed the audience with their grasp of syncopation as they played Mark Williams’ expressive “Dramatic Essay,” a great favorite among the musicians. “Over 50 percent of the young musicians named this as their favorite piece,” Gould told the audience. The older chamber orchestra musicians wowed the audience with their joyful playing of Béla Bartok’s “Romanian Folk Dances” in a program that also included Antonio Vivaldi’s “Concerto alla Rustica,” and Soon Hee Newbold’s “Journey of Odysseus.” The program’s finale featured an energetic medley of ballet music, after which first violinist Melissa Massey presented the conductor with a bouquet. Massey is the daughter of Mary Ellen Massey, who serves as president of the Skylands Youth Orchestra Board. Gould, who recently was recognized with a distinguished music teacher award by Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, has been a music educator in the Warwick Valley Central School District since 1995. She also has performed with the Orange County Music Educators Orchestra and the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. According to its mission statement, the Skylands Youth Symphony is dedicated to providing “a forum for young musicians, primarily but not exclusively string, to learn and perform a classical string orchestra repertoire in a supportive and musically competent environment.” Gould emphasized that the orchestra is open to all string players, up to age 18, who have been taking lessons for at least one year, can read music, and have the desire to participate in an ensemble setting. Funding for the concert was provided in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment of the Arts, through the State/County Partnership Block Grant Program, as administered by Sussex County.